July 01, 2006
Alumni events set for August in Chicago
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- One of Southern Illinois University Carbondale's premier educators will welcome alumni and guests at two events in Chicago, Aug. 19 and 20. The SIU Alumni Association is coordinating the festivities.
Activities begin on Aug. 19 with a Southern Social at the Mad River Bar & Grille, 2909 N. Sheffield Ave. in Chicago. Guests will gather at 6 p.m. and enjoy hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar, including drink specials.
Robert Hahn, who is entering his 25th year as an instructor at Southern, will be a special guest speaker at both functions. He has won SIUC's Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award in the College of Liberal Arts, and the University's Outstanding Educator Award. Hahn, who has taught more than 25,000 students at Southern, specializes in the history of philosophy, with an interest in the history and philosophy of science, particularly ancient philosophy.
He earned a doctorate in philosophy from Yale University, and also taught at the University of California at Berkeley, the University of Texas, Brandeis University, and Harvard University before coming to SIUC in 1982.
Mike Reis, Saluki sports broadcaster for 27 years, will join Hahn in welcoming attendees. He is a 2005 SIUC Athletics Hall of Fame inductee.
The following day, SIUC alumni can enjoy a special exhibit at the Field Museum, "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs." Guests can begin visiting "King Tut" at the south entrance of the museum on McFetridge Drive.
A themed lunch will be served at 12:30 p.m. in Rice Hall. Lunch includes a five-spiced grilled marinated chicken sandwich, hummus bi tahini accompanied by toasted pita chips, chocolate dipped macaroon, fresh fruit skewer, and beverages.
The program featuring a museum docent presentation begins at 1:30 p.m. Two museum tours will be conducted beginning at 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., respectively. Attendance to the lunch and group tours is limited.
Costs to attend the lunch and tour are $50 per Association member; $57 for non-members. Membership is open to alumni, students, and friends of SIUC.
To become a member or make reservations for the alumni functions in Chicago, call the SIU Alumni Association at 618/453-2408.
Building relationships among the University and its graduates is among the goals of Southern at 150: Building Excellence Through Commitment, the blueprint the University is following as it approaches its 150th anniversary in 2019.